Philly Folk Fest

Source: Source: Sounding Board Newsletter Vol 12 - Jan. 2002

The Philadelphia Folk Festival, one of the longest running and most successful events of its kind in the United States, just celebrated its 40th anniversary. Held every summer in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, this music festival has evolved from a small, grass roots event into a three-day family-oriented celebration attracting folk music enthusiasts from around the globe. The festival features an amazing list of performers, folk and square dancing, workshops, arts and crafts, and camping. This year’s lineup included such stellar artists as Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush, Janis Ian, Judy Collins, and David Bromberg, to name just a few.

The Philadelphia Folksong Society, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the encouragement and enjoyment of folk music and related expressions of folklore, sponsors research, education, therapeutic programs and related publications. Perhaps their most famous and visible activity is the annual summer folk festival.

The acoustic guitar is the key instrument used for virtually all the music performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and America’s premiere acoustic guitar maker, The Martin Guitar Company, has always played an important role as collaborator, supporter and sponsor of the festival. This year Martin sponsored the Festival’s new main stage that will be used for many years to come.

In honor of the Philadelphia Folk Festival’s 40th Anniversary and Martin’s long term enthusiastic involvement in and support of this event, Martin is proud to announce the MPFF 40th Anniversary Commemorative Guitar. Designed with folk musicians in mind, the MPFF Limited Edition marks the revival of Martin’s "M" Model, a large, thin-bodied studio guitar inspired by the Company’s 1930s arch-tops.

Hand crafted entirely of solid woods, the MPFF 40th Anniversary Commemorative Guitar is a 14-fret M model with hybrid scalloped X-bracing. The back and sides are East Indian rosewood, and the top is Engelmann spruce. The neck is solid mahogany, and the African black ebony fingerboard is inlaid with style 42 snowflake pattern with the Philadelphia Folk Festival’s banjo logo inlaid in mother of pearl between the 3rd and 5th frets. "Philadelphia Folk Festival" in stylized lettering will be inlaid in mother of pearl between the 18th and 20th frets.

Each MPFF Limited Edition Philadelphia Folk Festival 40th Anniversary Guitar will feature an interior label signed by Martin’s Chairman and CEO Chris Martin IV and by Festival Chairman David Baskin. A special secondary label will feature a printed panel of signatures of all of the artists who participated in this year’s event. Each guitar comes with a special blue jean denim covered Geib™ hardshell case. C. F. Martin & Co. will accept orders for the MPFF Philadelphia Folk Festival 40th Anniversary Edition until March 18th, 2002.

After the order period closes, the size of the edition and the names of participating Martin dealers will be posted on the Martin website.